HB 125 requires Wyoming's Department of Workforce Services to provide clear, accessible information and guidance to employers and employees about workplace injuries, covering topics like rights, workers' compensation claim processes, and available support services such as financial assistance and rehabilitation programs. The department must widely share this information and submit an annual report to a state committee by September 30, detailing how many people used the guidance and distinguishing between workers' compensation-specific resources and general workplace injury information. Implementing rules for these requirements must be finalized by July 1, 2022. This law directly affects all employers and employees in Wyoming who navigate workplace injury claims or support systems.
This Wyoming bill (SF 75) sets a minimum interest rate of 1.15% for calculating the guaranteed minimum value that must be maintained in certain deferred annuity contracts sold in the state. It ensures insurance companies cannot use a lower rate than 1.15% when determining these minimum values, protecting policyholders from excessive value reductions. The rule applies only to new annuity contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2022. This directly affects Wyoming-based insurance companies selling annuities and the policyholders who hold these contracts.
This bill repeals a fee for processing inheritance tax filings in Wyoming. Specifically, it removes the requirement to pay fees under Wyoming Statute 39-19-102(a) when submitting inheritance tax returns. The change applies to individuals or estate administrators handling inheritance tax filings but does not alter the inheritance tax rate itself. The repeal took effect on July 1, 2022.
Wyoming's SF 68 creates a legal framework for decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) by amending corporate law to recognize them as formal entities. It defines key terms like "membership interest" (digital ownership shares) and "smart contract" (blockchain-based agreements), and establishes that DAOs can operate either as "member managed" or "algorithmically managed" organizations. The bill requires DAOs to include a publicly available identifier in their founding documents and allows operating agreements to be implemented via blockchain code. This directly affects organizations forming as DAOs in Wyoming, providing clarity on governance, voting rules, and operational requirements under state law.
HB 7 amends Wyoming law to change how lifetime disqualifications for commercial drivers are handled. It allows the state department to reduce a lifetime disqualification to at least 10 years under specific conditions, but prohibits further reductions if a driver is later convicted of another disqualifying offense. The bill specifically maintains lifetime disqualification for commercial drivers convicted of using a commercial vehicle to commit drug-related felonies (like distribution or possession with intent) or human trafficking crimes. The changes took effect on July 1, 2022.
HB 30 increases the maximum allowable cash reserves for Wyoming school districts from 15% to 30% of their base state education funding (the "foundation program amount") for fiscal years 2022-2026. School districts must separately report any reserves exceeding 30% and cannot use that excess for capital construction projects. However, funds designated for major building repairs and replacements are exempt from the capital construction restriction. This bill directly affects all public school districts in Wyoming receiving state education funding.
HB 37 transfers Wyoming's juvenile justice information system from the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation to the Department of Family Services. It requires the Department to standardize how juvenile justice data is collected, shared, and coordinated by creating uniform rules for data gathering, methodologies, and best practices across state and local agencies. The bill repeals outdated requirements for submitting certain juvenile justice information and updates confidentiality provisions to align with the new system. These changes aim to improve data consistency and accessibility for agencies handling juvenile justice cases.
HB 59 modifies Wyoming's worker's compensation system to address COVID-19 claims. It exempts certain employer claims (for injuries occurring January 1, 2020, through March 31, 2022, filed by December 30, 2020, or March 31, 2023) from affecting the employer's experience rating. Instead, the state division must estimate the claim's cost and deposit that amount into the worker's compensation fund using federal CARES Act funds or other available federal pandemic relief money. This change ensures employers don't face higher insurance rates for qualifying COVID-19 workplace injuries while utilizing federal resources.
Wyoming's HB 70 creates legal protections for personal and organizational digital identities, allowing affected individuals or entities to sue for impersonation through electronic means. The bill enables court-ordered injunctions to stop misuse, recovery of damages or profits, and up to triple damages plus attorney fees if the impersonation was intentional or in bad faith. It also amends criminal penalties for unlawful impersonation online, adding digital identity to the definition of protected identity under existing law. The law took effect July 1, 2022, providing both civil remedies and criminal consequences for digital identity violations.
HB 86 prohibits Wyoming-based direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies from collecting, retaining, or disclosing genetic data without a consumer's explicit "express consent." It requires companies to provide clear privacy policies and obtain specific consent for data use, covering DNA test results and linked health information. The law exempts data already protected under federal health privacy laws (like HIPAA) and applies directly to Wyoming residents using these services. Key provisions include mandatory transparency about data handling and new requirements for companies to safeguard genetic information.
SF 58 moves the Wyoming Council for Women's Issues from the Wyoming Business Council to the Department of Workforce Services. The bill transfers all existing staff, funding, equipment, property, and authority to the new department while maintaining the council's focus on women's employment, education, home/community needs, and legal rights. All current council members and ongoing contracts will continue under the Department of Workforce Services. This reorganization takes effect immediately upon the bill becoming law.
This bill authorizes the use of previously allocated funds for Wyoming's municipal solid waste facilities program, prioritizing 19 specific projects to close or transfer waste sites. It sets maximum funding amounts for each project (e.g., $100,000 for carcass management to handle dead animals, $4 million for Uinta County's closure project) and requires the Department of Environmental Quality to maintain a prioritized list. The department can adjust the list order for efficiency, project readiness, or environmental emergencies, and must report annual spending to legislative committees. The bill directly affects Wyoming municipalities and waste districts operating facilities, with all projects funded from existing appropriations.
